CHAPTER TWO:

The Split Step

A split step is what you need to do every time that your opponent hits the ball. You should already be in the ready
position; and, just as they make contact with the ball, you should immediately split step. A split step involves jumping
off the ground and then landing on the balls of your feet. This puts you in an immediate ready position where you will
be able to explode to any direction your opponent hits the ball. It also prevents you from hitting balls when you are flat
footed or on your heels. You want your weight going forward. Here is a picture of the split step just after landing:

Footwork

Proper volley footwork involves taking a step in the direction of the volley with the opposite leg for weight transfer. Before we get into that,
let's cover a few posture mistakes we see at the Harlingen H.E.B. Tennis Center first. Mostly, we see players bending at the waist whenever
they go to hit a volley. This is one of the causes of back pain and back problems. Whether that volley be low or at a medium height, you want to bend your knees and move to it. Here are a couple of pictures of how not to move to a volley:

Can you say "Ouch!" Yet, this is what most people at the club level do on volleys. No wonder our backs are stiff!

Proper footwork involves stepping into the volley and bending at the knees. If you have trouble with this, the lunge is a great exercise
to get those knees in proper shape. More on exercise and weight-lifting for tennis in another lesson. On the forehand volley, step
across with your left foot towards your right for a volley on your right side (the opposite for left-handers). This will get your weight into
the shot.

This is much better. This will aid in hitting a more agressive volley that you can put away for a winner.

On the backhand volley, the opposite footwork is true. For right-handers, your right foot is going to cross over to your left in the
direction of where you are going to hit the ball. Again, with the continental grip, this puts you in great position for a backhand
slice volley. Like in the pictures below:

Nothing feels quite as good as putting away a backhand volley against a good doubles team.

Contact Point

The contact point should be out in front of you. Whenever you (mostly if you are a guy reading this) would play catch, you would catch
the ball out in front of you. This is a good exercise to get the feel of where you should be making contact with the ball.

See how far out in front of his body Jorge is catching the ball? Place your racquet there and that's where you should be making contact. +

The Dreaded Belly Volley

What do you do when your opponent slams the ball right at you at a hundred miles an hour? Do you move to the left,? right? What if you
don't have time to turn around? What you are going to do is side step and hit a backhand volley. Check out Jorge as I hit a missile at him.

Notice the angry (and scared) face he makes. This is also useful to convey the "bring it!" message to your opponent.

Keep all this in mind and you will be on your way to becoming a world class volleyer in no time. Take the lesson step by step, picture
it in your mind (preferrably right before you sleep) and apply it to your game. Rush the net!

Click the arrow to go to Chapter one of the volleys lesson.